Tawheed takes Precedence over everything (Part 1)

First Khutbah

O People! I advise you and myself to be conscious of Allah. Fear Allah who has created you and devote everything He bestows upon you in His service. Your Lord did not create you in jest; and He did not leave any of your affairs in this life without purpose. However, He created life and death in order to test you to see which of you is the best in deed.

O Muslims! When people stray from the path of Allah, they become confused in their religion and become submerged in all types of shirk and various levels of ignorance. In this context, Allah, Most High, says which translates as: “And be not of those who ascribe partners unto Him. Of those who split up their religion and became schismatic, each sect exulting in its tenets” (Ar-Rum: 31-32). “. . . and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, has indeed strayed far away” (An-Nisa': 116). People's minds are so limited that they not only fall short of comprehending the way of righteousness by themselves, but they also cannot obtain goodness or defend themselves from harm.

Sorrow will not be lifted from souls, nor will minds be relieved from disturbances or confusion, nor will there be rest for the heart from worry and difficulties until the soul (the mind) submits to the fact that Allah is the Only God Who is Unique, Besought, Sublime Potent and Superb; that to Him everything belongs; that He is the Disposer of all affairs; and that everything returns to Him. He, the Most High, says which translates as: “Yes, but whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good, - he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (Al-Baqarah: 112). “And who can better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham, the true in faith?” (An-Nisa’: 125).

O Brothers! Tawheed briefly defined is the Oneness of Allah in Divinity, in Worship, and in His Names and Attributes.Verily, submission to Allah and the dedication of worship to Him alone, elevates the believers’ character and mind, saves him from a heart that wanders astray, from desires that become corrupted, from the darkness of ignorance, superstition, from the tricks of soothsayers and non - Muslim religions, and from authorities of the Christians and the Jews who traffic in  the verses of Allah for a small profit. Sincere belief in Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) protects man from becoming reactive without control or restraint.

O Brothers! Belief in the Oneness of God is to worship Allah alone as an implementation of the words of truth: "there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is the Messenger of Allah". It is to commit yourself to all aspects of this statement, and to abide by its dictates under  all circumstances in life; prayer, sacrifice, life and death. The concept of the Oneness of Allah  must be applied to  belief, worship and laws of religion. This concept purifies the heart and soul from accepting a divinity other than Allah, from diverting all aspects of worship to other than Allah, and from accepting  law from a source other than Allah.

Belief in the Oneness of Allah is the focal point around which the religion of Islam revolves. It is the beginning of the religion and the end (the first of it and the last of it - in other words, it is the entire religion), it is the seen and the unseen, it is the cornerstone of Islam. It is has been established by proof, proven by evidence, and explained by verses of Qur'an. Islam is built upon the belief in one God, and the Qiblah to which Muslims turn in prayer is founded on the concept of the Oneness of Allah. This belief guarantees a covenant of protection (among believers); safeguards life, distinguishes (Darul Islam) the realm of those who believe from (Darul Kufr) the realm of those who disbelieve; and separates people into categories of those who are happy or sad, and those who are guided or have gone astray.

O Brothers! The Qur'an has directed utmost attention to the doctrine of  Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) as it is the greatest message of Islam and the mission of every prophet. In the Qur’an, Allah, Most High, says which translates as: “We assuredly sent amongst every people a Messenger, (with the command), 'worship Allah, and eschew taghut (all false deities worshiped beside Allah)'” (An-Nahl: 36). “And question thou our Messengers whom We sent before thee; did We appoint any deities other than the Most Gracious, to be worshiped?” (Az-Zukhruf: 45).

The Qur'an contains many verses that deal with the concept of the Oneness of God and the call to it. According to the Qur'an, salvation and pleasure in this life and in the Hereafter are totally founded on the absolute worship of Allah alone. The Qur'an discusses the reward and honor Allah will bestow upon those who believe in the Oneness of Allah. Similarly, it talks about Shirk (polytheism) and the disgrace the polytheists will have in this life and the severe chastisement in the Hereafter. The Qur’an proclaims which translates as: “If anyone assigns partners to Allah, he is as if he had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind has swooped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown him into a far - distant place” (Al-Hajj: 31). “Verily Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship” (An-Nisa’: 48).

Fulfilling Allah's commands and refraining from His prohibitions, and steering clear of prohibited matters are the dictates of the belief in One God. In more than one verse, the Qur'an directly addresses the disbelievers regarding the concept of Tawheed to acknowledge and adopt it, saying which translates as: “O ye people! Worship your Guardian Lord, Who created you and those who came before you that ye my become righteous.” (Al-Baqarah: 21). “Therefore flee unto Allah: I am from Him a warner to you, clear and open! And make not another object of worship with Allah: I am from Him a warner to you, clear and open.” (Adh-Dhariat: 50-51). Likewise, every prophet used to say to his people, as in the Qu’ran which translates as: “O my people! Worship Allah! Ye have no other god but Him” (Al-'Araf : 59). “Not a Messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I, therefore worship Me” (Al-Anbiya: 25).

The Qur'an addresses the believers to increase their faith so that they will be satisfied with the realization of the belief in the Oneness of Allah, and warns them against having any omission, imbalance or imperfection in this belief, as Allah says which translates as: “O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him)” (An-Nisa’: 136). Among the attributes of Allah's servants is worshiping Him alone as He describes which translates as: “Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god” (Al-Furqan: 68). Another proof of this characteristic found in those who believe and to whom Allah has promised supremacy on earth is stated in the following ayah which translates as: “They worship Me (alone) and not associate ought with Me” (An-Nur: 55). Allah ordered His Prophets and Messengers to discard polytheism and avoid polytheists. Allah exalted and blessed is He, says which translates as:

“Behold! We pointed the site, to Abraham, of the (sacred) House, (saying): Associate not anything (in worship) with Me” (Al-Hajj: 26)

“And Abraham enjoined upon his sons and so did Jacob; ‘Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the faith for you, then die not except in the state of submission (to Me).’ Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: What will ye worship after me? They said: ‘We shall worship thy God and the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Ismail, and Isaac, the One (True) God; to Him do we submit” (Al-Baqarah: 132-133).

“But it has already been revealed to thee, as it was to those before thee, If thou went to join (gods with Allah), truly fruitless will be thy work (in life), and thou wilt surely be among the losers. Nay, but worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks” (Az-Zumar: 65-66).

“Say: I am commanded to worship Allah, and not to join partners with Him. Unto Him do I call, and unto Him is my return” (Ar-Ra’d: 36).

“And invite (men) to thy Lord and be not of the company of those who join gods with Allah” (Al-Qasas: 87).

“Follow what thou art taught by inspiration from thy Lord: there is no god but He: and turn aside from those who join gods with Allah” (Al-An’am: 106).

Commenting on the previous Qur’anic verses, scholars said that if those who would not commit shirk (like the prophets) are commanded not to ascribe partners with Allah, then what about all others? The Prophet Abraham (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), the leader of those who submitted to Allah, said which translates as: “(O my Lord) preserve me and my sons from worshiping idols. O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind” (Ibrahim: 35-36). Ibrahim At-Taymiy said, "Who does feel safe from error (polytheism) after Ibrahim?” The aforementioned verses are evidence from the Qur’an. Now, let us also reflect upon some proof from the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam):

1 - The message, mission, and biography of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) from its beginning to the end, in Makkah and Madinah, in travel and residence, in peace and in war, all focused on the concept of one God. The message started with the absolute admonition: “and all abomination shun” (Al-Mudhathir: 5); then with admonishing the nearest kinsmen: “So call not on any other god with Allah, or thou wilt be among those who will be punished. And admonish thy nearest kinsmen” (Ash-Shu`ara: 213-214); then with the order to proclaim the Da`wah openly: “And expound openly what thou art commanded, and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah” (Al-Hijr: 94); then after he was commanded to migrate from Makkah to Madinah: “Have no fear, for Allah is with us ” (At- Tawbah: 40); then with the permission to fight and launch war (Jihad) against the enemies of Allah: “those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, (for no cause) except that they say, "Our Lord is Allah” (Al-Hajj : 40); until the conquest of Makkah and the demolition of idols: “And say: Truth has (now) arrived, and falsehood perished” (Al- Isra': 81); and the approach of death: “Celebrate the Praises of thy Lord, and ask for His Forgiveness” (An-Nasr: 3).

2 - The Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), when he was at death's door, said: "Allah's curse is upon the Jews and Christians, as they used to take the graveyards of their Prophets as mosques" (Bukhari and Muslim).

You cannot find a period during the lifetime of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) in which he did not declare the Oneness of Allah and fight against taking partners with Allah (shirk) and its manifestations. You can say that the call to the belief in one God was the exclusive target of the Prophet's mission. He (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) did not give up this call even when he was alone, in a state of siege, or while he (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) was immigrating (to Madinah) with the unbelievers chasing him (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). In addition, he (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) did not stop preaching the Oneness of Allah when he (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) took the helm in Madinah and his (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) message became known among his Companions and supporters even after the decisive conquest of Makkah. In times when Muslims are commanded to swear the oath of allegiance, they were also commanded to believe in the Oneness of Allah and discard polytheism.

It is important to note that all of this is in the recorded biography and authentic sayings (Ahadith) of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), and the Qur'an; therefore, belief in the Oneness of Allah should take precedence over all other things throughout all time and in every place. As for the five essential pillars of Islam, they have been enacted to embody, establish, and implement the concept of the Oneness of Allah in thought and application as well as in theory and practice. For example, the Shahada (testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) is a confirmation of Allah's Oneness and a rejection of polytheism. Similarly, this concept (exemplified in the Shahada) is shared in Islamic legislation and continued in the person sent to deliver the message, Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) who was inspired by Allah.

Salah, the formal prayer is also a manifestation of Tawheed, the belief in the Oneness of Allah. The beginning of Salah with the opening Takbir (the pronunciation of Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) is based upon the repudiation of anyone besides Allah being in this exalted position and the minimization of anything besides Him. In Salah, during the recitation of Al-Fatihah (the Opening Chapter of The Qur'an which is said in each Raka'at), the Muslim recites Allah's saying which translates as: “You (alone) do we worship; you (alone) do we ask for help” (Al- Fatihah: 5).

Similarly, paying alms (Zakaah) shows an affiliation with Salah in that it is also an act of worship and an acknowledgement of the Lord, the Majestic. The one who pays it does it for the sake of Allah, thereby doing good for his soul and freeing himself from enslavement to money, as Allah says which translates as: “And woe to those who join with Allah, those who pay not Zakaah and who even deny the Hereafter” (Fussilat: 6 - 7).

Source: Tawheed takes Precedence over all else